EPJ Web of Conferences 114, 0 20 49 (2016 )

DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/ 2016 11 4 0 2 0 49


C Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2016

Flow characteristics of control valve for different strokes

Jana Jablonská1,a and Milada Kozubková1
1
VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Hydromechanics and Hydraulic Equipment,
17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava – Poruba, Czech Republic

Abstract. The article deals with the determination of flow characteristics and loss coefficients of control valve
when the water flows in the interval of operating parameters, including the evaluation of vapour and air
cavitation regime. The characteristics of the control valve are measured on the experimental equipment and
subsequently loss coefficients are determined. Data from experimental measurements are used for creating of
mathematical model with vapour and air cavitation and verification results. This validation will enable the
application of methods of numerical modelling for valves of atypical dimensions e.g. for use in nuclear power
industry. The correct knowledge of the valve characteristics and fundamental coefficients (e.g. flow coefficient,
cavitation coefficient and loss coefficient) is necessarily required primarily for designers of pipe networks.

1 Cavitation in control valves 2 Mathematical models

Hydrodynamic cavitation appears in hydraulic armatures Cavitation model assumes a minimum of two-phase
during their current operation. This phenomenon is mixture flowing - water and vapour. The release of
discovered for example in the narrowest gap between the dissolved air occurs at higher Reynolds numbers, and
regulating cone and the valve body. At this location the therefore model with three phases - water, vapour and air
liquid is accelerated and the pressure is decreased. is considered. The dynamics of the gas comes from
Vapour bubbles are formed in the liquid from cavitation Rayleigh - Plesset equation for the dynamics of bubbles
nuclei (undissolved air and impurities). Growth of pvap (t ) − p∞ (t ) 2
d 2 Rb 3 § dRb · 4υl dRb 2S
= Rb + ¨ ¸ + + (1)
cavitation nuclei begins when the pressure falls below the ρl dt 2 2 © dt ¹ R dt ρl Rb
value of saturation vapour pressure. It causes a sudden for certain value of local far pressure p∞(t) the bubble
production of vapour bubbles, which are abducted by the radius Rb(t) can be determined; pvap is bubble surface
liquid. Recover increase of pressure occurs behind the pressure; σ is surface tension; νl is kinematic viscosity of
place of the smallest cross section. Vapour bubbles
liquid; l is density of liquid; see [9, 10, 11].
suddenly are diminished and disappeared by influence of Transport equation of vapour volume fraction is taken
the pressure. The gases contained in the bubbles partially into account.
diffuse into the surrounding liquid which is penetrated in ∂
(ρ fvap ) + ∇§¨ ρ fvap u ·¸ = ∇(γ∇fvap ) + Re − Rc
→
their place. The remnants of gases in place of (2)
∂t © ¹
disappearing bubbles repeatedly decrease and increase
their volume due to compressibility [1, 5]. Cavitation is where fvap is volume fraction of vapour; u is the velocity
influenced not only by vapour but also by dissolved air in vector of the mixture;  is density of the mixture; Re is
the water, which is released at the narrowest section of efficient exchange factor for p < pvap; Rc is efficient
the valve or by undissolved air sucked into the hydraulic exchange factor for p > pvap.
circuit. In terms of the dynamics of bubbles it behaves Individual cavitation models are different at the
like vapour. The maximum volume of the dissolved air in determination of Re and Rc. For Schnerr Sauer cavitation
the water is 2% at normal conditions [3, 14, 15]. model the follows equations are valid
p ≤ p vap
Cavitation in control valves is characterized by
vibrations. Sound similar to the intermittent crackle in the ρl ρ vap 3 2 pvap − p
Re = α (1 − α ) (3)
field of the audible frequency can be observed in many ρ Rb 3 ρl
cases [2, 4]. The occurrence of cavitation cloud in the p ≥ p vap
flow field significantly influences the flow parameters of ρ l ρ vap 3 2 p − p vap
the valve [3, 5]. Rc = α (1 − α ) (4)
ρ Rb 3 ρl

a
Corresponding author: jana.jablonska@vsb.cz

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits  

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 EPJ Web of Conferences
Numerical simulation of flow in the valve is based on
solution of Navier-Stokes equations by finite volume
method and is performed by software Ansys Fluent 15.
Model k- RNG has been used for modelling. This model
is one of the modifications of the basic k- standard
model. It is derived from the Navier-Stokes equations,
using a mathematical technique called “renormalization
group” (RNG) method. The model increases the
calculating accuracy for the turbulent flow of lower
Reynolds numbers and primarily for vortex flow.
Therefore it is more reliable.
3 Description of the experiment
To test the control valve, a test circuit was built according
determined by measuring and evaluating for individual
strokes of the control valve (see figure 2). The
coefficients of these characteristics are determined by
regression.
4 Evaluation of the experiment
Cavitation in the valve can arise in the area of the
narrowest place of the valve. The increase of flow
velocity and decrease of pressure (due to the Bernoulli
equation) occurs due to narrowing of the flow cross
section. The pressure can reach values of saturated
vapour pressure.
Cavitation index is determined by design
characteristics of the valve and expresses losses of the
to SN EN 60534-2-3 [6]. The test circuit is on figure 1.
Figure 1. Circuit scheme – 1 - tank, 2 – pump, 3 – pump
frequency converter, 4 – setting valve at inlet, 5 – frame, 6 –
flowmeter, 7 – sampling point of pressure at inlet, 8 – test flow
control valve DN40, 9 – sampling point of pressure at outlet, 10
– setting valve at outlet.
Measured element is the valve with a modified cone.
The cone is adapted to be armature with control
capabilities.
For measurement the water was used, i.e. an
incompressible medium at a temperature of 20 °C.
Accurate determination of the cone stroke was ensured by
a system of lines around the perimeter of the valve [6, 7].
Accuracy of the cone stroke was ± 0.2 mm.
Figure 2. Control valve characteristic.
Basic characteristic of the valve, i.e. the dependence
of pressure drop on the flow rate consists of individual
characteristics that are designed for various valve strokes
(5; 10; 20 and 24.5 mm). This characteristic is
02049-p.2
valve due to cavitation. It expresses comparison of the
ability prevent the cavitation and susceptibility to
cavitation.
p1 − p v
σ = (5)
p1 − p 2
where p1 is the absolute pressure at the inlet of the valve;
pv is the saturated vapour pressure for a given
temperature; p2 is the absolute pressure at the outlet of the
valve.
Figure 3. The relative flow characteristics - dependence of the
cavitation index on the flow rate.
The critical value of cavitation index that determines
the beginning of cavitation for the valve construction was
determined based on a calculation from the experiment,
see [8, 13, 15]. The value of cavitation index equals 2 and
corresponds to the measured valve. If cavitation index
was less than 2, then cavitation occurred.
Dependence of cavitation index on the flow rate is
shown in figure 3. The graph shows that cavitation occurs
already during flow rate 7.87 m3 h-1 for cone stroke 5 mm
and for cone stroke 10 mm during flow rate 12.07 m3 h-1.
Loss coefficient is typical for control valves used in
European countries, which is derived from the equation
2
1 2 ª1 2 º
Q= S Δp Ÿ ζ =« S Δp » (6)
ζ ρ ¬Q ρ ¼
Decreasing of loss coefficient with increasing the
valve stroke is shown in figure 4. Loss coefficient is
determined from valve characteristic (see figure 2), where
the equation p = R · Q2 is valid for turbulent flow.
 EFM 2015

Three variants of the calculation for the cone stroke of

5 mm are compared in this article.
Variant A - water and vapour (two-phase model with
cavitation)
Variant B - water and air (two-phase model without
cavitation)
Variant C - water, air and vapour (three-phase model
with cavitation)
Table 2. Boundary and cavitation conditions for the cone stroke
of 5 mm.

A B C
Figure 4. Loss coefficient dependence on the valve stroke. inlet - mass flow inlet* - mass flow rate kg s-1
water 3.271 3.271 3.271
vapour 0 0 0
5 Numerical modelling of flow through air - 3.958·10-5 3.958·10-5
the valve outlet - pressure outlet Pa
101793 101793 101793
The task is modelled in a three dimensional space, using cavitation Schnerr –
-
Schnerr –
plane symmetry. The geometry of the created region, conditions Sauer model Sauer model
network and boundary conditions are seen in figure 5. pvap 2340 Pa - 2340 Pa
Modelled region is identical with the measuring region nb 1013 - 1013
(figure 1), inlet and outlet of the area are located in places * It is necessary to insert only half of the flow rate
of pressure sensors. into inlet boundary condition because of the plane
symmetry task.
Where pvap is saturation vapour pressure; nb is bubble
number density.
Table 3. Physical properties.

density kg m-3 viscosity Pa s

water 998.2 0.001003
vapour 0.017 1.34·10-5
air ideal-gas 1.789·10-5
Turbulent models and grid quality were tested in
earlier tasks [11, 12].

6 Evaluation of flow modelling in control

Figure 5. Geometry of the modelling region, grid and boundary valve
conditions.
Dependence of inlet pressure on the mass flow rate for
Tasks for cone strokes 5; 10; 20 and 24.5 mm were numerical and experimental results for selected variants
modeled. In the article only the task for cone stroke of 5 of cone stroke is evaluated in figure 6. It is evident a
mm, where the cavitation at relatively low flow rates was good agreement between calculated and measured values.
occurred, is described in detail.
Two equation cavitation turbulent k- RNG model on
the basis of the Reynolds number and recommendations
of the literature [9, 12, 13] was selected. The third phase
i.e. air was added at the inlet so that the pressure and flow
rate agreed with the measured values. Volume fraction of
air was specified by value of 2% (i.e. air mass flow rate is
3.958·10-5 kg s-1). The task was calculated as a time
dependent due to the dynamics of cavitation area. Time
step was 0.0001 s, which ensured the convergence of the
task at each time step.
Table 1. The measured values for the cone stroke of 5 mm.
Figure 6. Dependence of pressure inlet (the modeled and
Qwater Qwater p1 p2 measured) on the mass flow rate.
m3 s-1 kg s-1 Pa Pa
3.278·10-3 3.271 357537 101793 The dependence of inlet pressure and its deviations
from the experiment for different variants of modelling is
in figure 7. It is evident that deviation of the input

02049-p.3
 EPJ Web of Conferences

pressure (as compared with measurement) is greatest for with the experiment is not possible because the valve is
modelling of variant A (flow of water and vapour). The not transparent.
deviation was dramatically reduced by considering the A C
flow of water and air (variant B). The air content in water
is equal to 2%. If the cavitation model is added, i.e. the
flow of water, vapour and air - variant C, the smallest
deviation between calculated and measured values is
observed.

B C

Figure 7. Dependence of inlet pressure and deviation for each

variations of modelling for the cone stroke of 5 mm.

The pressure along the length of the valve for each

modelled variants is shown in figure 8. The outlet is
given by pressure boundary condition and is specified Figure 9. Volume fraction of vapour, air, vapour and air for
from experimental measurement, so the pressures on individual variations vs. length of modelled area.
outlet are the same.

Figure 8. Pressure along the length of modelled variants for

cone stroke of 5 mm.

It is obvious that the value of pressure at inlet depends
on the choice of the multiphase model, see figure 8.
Cavitation model of multiphase flow of water and vapour
gives underestimated values of pressure drop in
comparison with experiment. The air in variant A is not
considered. By addition of air at the inlet the results are
significantly more accurate what is confirmed by variants
B and C.
From the literature [13, 14, 15] it is evident that air
cavitation refines numerical calculation. The amount of
air in the liquid is difficult to measure and it is only
determined from the numerical experiments.
The volume fraction of vapour in variant A (water and
vapour) is significantly higher than in variant C (water,
vapour and air), see figure 9. Volume fraction of air in
variant B is higher than in variant C. Evaluation of sum
of vapour and air volume fraction is only possible for
variant C. Comparison of the size of the cavitation area
Figure 10. Cavitation area of the control valve.
Locations where cavitation occurs at the valve by the
cone stroke of 5 mm are shown in figure 10. These
locations of the valve are the most stressed and greatest
wearing occurs on them.
7 Conclusion
The article deals with the formation of cavitation
mathematical model for multiphase flow of water, air and
vapour in the control valve for individual cone strokes.
For verification and definition of the boundary conditions
the characteristics and loss coefficients of were measured.
Results of mathematical modelling were then compared
with experimental results.
The evaluation of the cavitation number is an
important result, which indicates that cavitation already

02049-p.4
 EFM 2015

arises at low flow rates for the cone stroke of 5 mm. For
this reason the cone stroke of 5 mm was also selected for
the evaluation of mathematical modelling.
The methodology of mathematical modelling of flow
in control valve for each cone stroke was described. From
evaluation of numerical solution and experimental
measurements it was indicated, that to achieve consensus
in the pressure boundary conditions, it was necessary to
consider the addition of air, which moreover affects the
size of the cavitation cloud.
Numerically it has been proven that vapour and air
cavitation occurs at the edges of the valve. In practical
point of view, presence of air cavitation reduces wearing
in comparison with clean vapour cavitation.
The presence of air and vapour cavitation was also
confirmed in other hydraulic elements [13, 14, 15].

References
1. C. E. Brennen, An introduction to cavitation
fundamentals. (2011)
2. L. H. Yang, S. A. Liu, Y. L. Chen, X. H. Zhou, C. X.
Wang, Y. M. Yao, J. L. Liu, Applied Mechanics and
Materials, 548-549 (2014)
3. J. Noskievi, Kavitace. (1969)
4. S. C. LI, Cavitation of Hydraulic Machinery. (2000)
5. C. E. Brennen, Fundamentals of multiphase flow.
(2005)
6. SN EN 60534-2-3 (1999)
7. SN EN 1267 (2012)
8. J. Parish, Valve Magazine. (2009)
9. Fluent 15 – User’s guide. [Online]. Available to
from: <URL: http://sp1.vsb.cz/DOC/Fluent_6.1/
html/ug/ /main_pre.htm>.
10. M. Kozubková, Numerické modelování proudní –
FLUENT I. [Online]. Available to from: <URL:
http://www.338.vsb.cz/seznam.htm>. (2005)
11. M. S. Plesset, R. B. Chapman, J. of Fluid Mechanics,
47 (02), (1971).
12. J. Dobeš, M. Kozubková, EPJ Web of Conferences
67, p. 02019. EDP Sciences. (2014)
13. J. Jablonská, M. Kozubková, Applied Mechanics and
Materials, 752-753. (2015)
14. M. Kozubková, J. Rautová, Proceedings of the 3rd
IAHR International Meeting of the Workgroup on
Cavitation and Dynamic Problems in Hydraulic
Machinery and Systems. (2009)
15. J. Jablonská, M. Kozubková, J. of Computational
Multiphase Flows, 7 (2), (2015)

Acknowledgements
The work presented in this paper was supported by a
grant SGS "Zkoumání dynamiky tekutinových systém"
SP2015/95.

02049-p.5